RCB Library Notes20 Feb 13

Seventeenth Century Records of St Audoen’s Tell a Tale of Early Dublin

A new book entitled The Vestry Records of the Parish of St Audoen, Dublin, 1636–1702 was launched on Monday February 11 in St Audoen’s Church, Cornmarket, Dublin 2. Edited by Dr Maighréad Ní Mhurchadha, the volume is a partial reconstruction of the vestry records based largely on printed extracts from the originals which were published in the Irish Builder and previously unpublished transcripts in Marsh’s Library made by the Revd Christopher McCready.

While the parish registers from the late 17th century have survived, the vestry minute books have not. They may have been destroyed in the Four Courts in 1992. Therefore the new book provides valuable insights into the life of the parish and the city of Dublin in the 17th century. 

Following a welcome by Canon Mark Gardner, Professor Raymond Gillespie of the History Department of NUI Maynooth, launched the book. He said the book was important because the material within cast a light on what was a central moment in the emergence of the parish system. He observed that the RCB Library had been publishing the records of the parishes and all the pre–1660 records were now in place.

“So now we are uniquely placed to understand the workings of the parishes in the city and this parish in particular,” he stated. The professor said St Audoen’s was a unique parish as it was attached to the Roman Catholic Guild of St Anne. He added that the church lies at the centre of the early modern city. “They are not simply the records of a church, they are not simply the records of a denomination, but they are the records of the life of a city,” he stated.

Dr Ní Mhurchadha recalled the late Canon Crawford who had been a great help in piecing together the vestry records. She thanked Professor Gillespie for suggesting the project and Dr Raymond Refaussé of the RCB Library for agreeing to it. She also paid tribute to the staff of Marsh’s Library, Gilbert Library and the National Library for their help and everyone else who assisted. “It is wonderful to think that at long last we know a bit more about this beautiful church – the oldest parish church in Dublin,” she said. 

Dr Refaussé said he was grateful to Dr Ní Mhurchadha for taking the project on and praised her dedication and determination to see it through to the end. He also thanked Four Courts Press for their involvement, Michael Webb chairperson of the RCB Library, and Canon Gardner and the parish for their support of the project. He thanked the Office of Public Works for facilitating the launch. He said they were indebted to Professor Gillespie for his continued support of the RCB Library.

The hardback book costs €55 and is available now.
For additional details see:–
www.fourcourtspress.ie/product.php?intProductID=1119